Thirteen years I've been doing this !

April 05, 2015

RIP Basmati restaurant

I'mentioned it here in the past. I've been using the restuarant on and off for twenty years. It's the only place I know of in miles that does a methi gosht (cos it's a Bengali restaurant).

I can forgive the fact their website had a scrolling banner wishing us Merry Christmas til a week or so ago.

About 2 months ago, I ordered myself a Saturday night treat of a methi gosht and a paneer dish in a rich creamy tomato sauce. they are about 4 miles away, but do deliver down to us in the Birchills and the couple I'd had previous were excellent.

That night, an hour or more passed and still no curry, then the phone rang and the guy said I'm outside. Down I went in the lift and no one in sight. Back up I came in the world's slowest lift and called him back. Where are you, I enquired. He gave me an address that wasn't mine. I googled it and he was the other side of Bloxwich.

By the time he got to me, the food was cold.

A few weeks later, I ordered up a methi gosht and a Bombay potato. The meat in the curry was tough as old boots. the potato dish tasted strongly of vinegar and was inedible.

I mentioned this to OBC and he said that with him, restaurants are only as good as their last meal.

Last night was the first time in a while I've craved a Saturday night curry treat. I called Basmati at 5pm. Firstly, the guy seemed not to be paying attention. He kept putting the phone down and I could hear him jabbering to someone as I sat there wondering what was going on. Then I'd have to repeat myself (this happened three or four times).

Then he didn't know what matar paneer was (despite it being on the menu as muter paneer).

I even explained, paneer and peas. Then when it came for me to pay, he kept getting the number wrong despite my clearly orating it. He said he was having a problem and would call me straight back.

Ten minutes went by, no call. I rang him back and he said he'd been busy taking take away orders on the phone. Whilst mine ordered half an hour ago is ignored. I told him to forget what I'd ordered and I'd get curry elsewhere (there must be fifty in the locality who deliver).

The boss rang me back. He also offered up the busy taking orders excuse certainly unaware that for every order they took, pushed mine ordered at the minute they opened was pushed down the line.

After putting them in their place, I opted for the more local Shahi Grill who delivered up a very nice lamb bhuna (apart from the pieces of raw onion in the sauce) and a matar or muter paneer, which had an excellent flavour, good portion but unfortunately more raw onion.

I've no idea what is going on at the Basmati, a place I've raved about for so many years and recommended others to go try.

Am arranging a boys night out with Audie and Junior Cockwomble in a week or two's time. Guess where we won't be going?